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Thread: Share USB Device Over Network?

  1. #1
    Cable Guy Jonny M's Avatar
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    Share USB Device Over Network?

    Does anyone know if this is possible? Say I have a scanner plugged into PC1, but PC2 wants to use it as well without fiddling around with cables, is it possible to have the device appear to be plugged into PC2, and allow PC2 to control it, with some funky software creating a 'virtual' USB port?

    Or not

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    I believe it is possible (i hope), and I don't think you need special software. I think windows should be able to set it up. I've never done it myself though, but I hope to share a USB net connection and a printer in a few months time.

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    Cable Guy Jonny M's Avatar
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    Printer and network connections are easy, I was thinking more along the lines of having 1 scanner available on two PCs, and being able to sync my Palm from my laptop even though the Palm will be connected to the desktop.

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    I have no idea - sorry!

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    Time for Walkies... Atomic's Avatar
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    The scanner is possible. Duno about the palm tho.

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    Administrator Moby-Dick's Avatar
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    Atomic - I've yet to see a scanner sucesfully shared over a network - I'd love to be proved wrong however
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    listen to escape fails :) luap.h's Avatar
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    You could use something like MS Terminal Services or VNC on the host computer to just be able to control it remotely - not exactly what you're looking for though

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    Ex-MSFT Paul Adams's Avatar
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    I would have guessed that as an imaging device requires a TWAIN driver, it would have to be a 3rd-party solution to do the sharing?

    I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything native to Windows to allow sharing of those kinds of devices.

    There are some products that have their own solutions, a quick Google uncovers:
    http://www.umax.co.uk/support/technotes/n005B.htm
    http://www.recogniform.com/scanning.htm
    http://www.forefrontec.com/showproducts.asp?cid=29
    as examples
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    Senior Member oshta's Avatar
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    I heard that it can work for web cams

    - not sure though, would be cool if it could

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